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Rigopiano avalanche: Ten found alive in Italy hotel after two days Rigopiano avalanche: Ten found alive in Italy hotel after two days
(about 2 hours later)
Rescuers in central Italy have found 10 survivors after an avalanche buried a mountain hotel - and six have been pulled out so far. Rescuers in central Italy have found 10 survivors after an avalanche buried a mountain hotel.
Video showed two people - a mother and her son - being helped out by cheering rescuers, through a hole in the snow. Four children and a woman have been pulled out of the snow that smothered the Rigopiano hotel, in the Abruzzo region, on Wednesday, following several earthquakes.
The avalanche struck the Rigopiano hotel, in the Abruzzo region, on Wednesday after several earthquakes. Workers say they will work into the night to free the others survivors and search for any more.
At least four people died and about 20 are still missing. Deep snow blocking the access road hampered the rescue. At least four people died and about 20 are still missing.
A woman told the BBC that three of her relatives were among those rescued on Friday. There were cheers as the survivors emerged from a hole in the snow.
Their father - who was already being treated at the local hospital - was taken to see them, she said. They had reportedly taken refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm for two days.
"His wife is from Romania, she is 43 years old - her daughter just turned six years old, and the boy is eight," said the woman, who asked not to be identified. The rescue has been hampered by deep snow blocking an access road.
"They were on holiday and just getting ready to leave when the avalanche came." There are also concerns that further avalanches could follow, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported.
She said all but the young girl had been released from hospital after treatment. First word of the discovery came around 11:00 (10:00 GMT).
The survivors reportedly took refuge beneath a collapsed portion of ceiling, where they were able to light a fire to keep warm. The first person pulled out was an eight-year-old boy, the son of a holidaymaker, Giampiero Parete, who had gone to his car when the avalanche struck and first sounded the alarm by calling his boss.
Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall that buried phone lines and took out power cables. The boy's mother, Adriana, was pulled out next, telling rescue workers her six-year-old daughter was still trapped inside.
The little girl was also later saved and the family was reunited at a hospital in the coastal town of Pescara.
Hospital officials told the Associated Press news agency they had symptoms of hypothermia and dehydration, but were otherwise in good health.
"They had heavy clothes," said Dr Rossano di Luzio. "They had ski caps to cover themselves. They remained away from the snow and cold, they were always inside the structure. That's why the hypothermia wasn't severe."
Friends and relatives of the missing have been gathering at the hospital to wait for news.
The BBC's James Reynolds, in the nearby town of Penne, said news of the rescue had led to an outpouring of emotion.The BBC's James Reynolds, in the nearby town of Penne, said news of the rescue had led to an outpouring of emotion.
"In one village, a young woman - who's worked at the collapsed hotel - dropped to her knees and burst into tears when she heard the news," he said. In one village, a young woman, who's worked at the collapsed hotel, dropped to her knees and burst into tears when she heard the news, he said.
Some reports suggest the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes. Wednesday's earthquakes included four stronger than magnitude 5, in a region already struggling with heavy snowfall that buried phone lines and took out power cables.
Many of the guests had gathered on the ground floor of the hotel to await evacuation following the earthquakes.
But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday.But the avalanche completely buried the hotel at about 17:00 (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (11 yards) off its foundations.The force of the snow partially brought down the roof and, according to some reports, shifted the building 10m (11 yards) off its foundations.
Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later.Rescuers, who were forced to ski and shovel their way towards the site of the avalanche, were reportedly only dispatched hours later.
One survivor, who had left the hotel for his car, telephoned his boss, a man named Quintino Marcella, just after 17:30. Mr Parete, who escaped the deluge when he went to his car to pick up headache tablets for his wife, telephoned his boss, a man named Quintino Marcella, just after 17:30.
Mr Marcella said he immediately contacted the authorities, but they did not initially believe him. He said he kept calling for two hours before being told help was on the way.Mr Marcella said he immediately contacted the authorities, but they did not initially believe him. He said he kept calling for two hours before being told help was on the way.
The first rescue team reached the hotel by 04:30 on Thursday, after a night of freezing temperatures.The first rescue team reached the hotel by 04:30 on Thursday, after a night of freezing temperatures.
Twenty-two guests and seven staff members were registered as being at the hotel, but the actual number is unclear, and rescuers say it could be as many as 35. Rescuers are unsure of the exact total of people - guests and staff - who were at the hotel, but say it could be as many as 35.
Two people who were outside the hotel at the time of the avalanche survived.
A list of 23 names given by La Stampa newspaper suggests that most are Italians, but they include a Swiss national and a Romanian.
Three are children aged six, seven and nine, and the oldest person on the list is a man of 60.
Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October.Italy has seen a wave of damaging earthquakes in recent months. The Apennines region saw three magnitude-6 tremors between August and October.
It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result.It is believed that the geological stress is spread across a number of fault lines in Italy's mountain ranges - with recent earthquakes as the result.
Are you in the area or have you been affected by this incident? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the area or have you been affected by this incident? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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